Saturday, August 30, 2008

Paletas: Mango and Raspberry (V)

Inspired by a segment featuring Rick Bayless' daughter Laney this afternoon on Channel 10, The Wife (...who is writing this! Don't you just love third person?) made paletas with a popsicle mold we'd used a couple of times last summer and had forgotten was in the cabinet that stores all miscellaneous kitchen items. Around here, we heart paletas so, so much. When we go to Nashville for a quick vacation, we must go to Las Paletas on South 12th Street multiple times. The hot-chili-chocolate, the tomato-cucumber, the tamarind, the hibiscus flower -- wow. It is the best selection of flavors ever. Hello, popsicle binge!

So here we cobbled together two flavors of our own: mango-lime-banana and raspberry-lemon-peach. The secret ingredient according to Laney is, of all things, club soda added at the end. Here is a basic recipe for you to try now that you can probably find all kinds of molds on sale around town. (We got ours via Amazon and the sticks on a last-minute dash to Michael's craft store tonight.)
Paletas:
2 c fruit, sliced (you can blend berries first and then strain out the seeds if you want)
1/4 c sugar
1 lemon or one lime, juiced
1/2 c club soda

Blend first 3 ingredients in food processor. Add club soda and pulse. Pour into molds, add sticks, and freeze for 3 hours. Let them sit out on the counter for a few to thaw for easier removal. Possibly never buy boxed popsicles again. 

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

We went to Las Paletas TWICE when we were in Nashville for an overnight trip a few weeks ago. I think y'all should work on the chocolate and chile recipe! The pistachio was pretty darn good, too. Save me a Popsicle!
-bianca

Bianca said...

Cool! I've never had a paleta! But I read an article about Las Paletas in Nashville's version of Edible Memphis (called Local Table) and I made a mental note to go there since I'm in Nashville at least twice a month...but I forgot until now! Guess I could just use your recipe and make some home...in the meantime.

BTW, um, do ya'll know another Bianca? Cause that comment above did not come from me...I need to meet all Bianca's, so I should meet that person.

The Chubby Vegetarian said...

yeah, she's our sister in law...she says people always ask her if she writes for the flyer! biancas unite!

- amy

Michael Hughes said...

Could you use anything else to sweeten besides sugar?

Bianca said...

Ha! That's crazy. We should start a secret Bianca club!

VeganCowGirl said...

These sound great. To be honest I had never heard of paleta...must be a southern US thing maybe? These look great, and I have some molds that I bought a while ago. Will have to try your recipes - what a great combo.

Anonymous said...

I love, love, love paletas. Have never tried to make them, though.

Anonymous said...

I love, love, love paletas. Never made them, though.

Anonymous said...

PLEASE HELP!!! Where can I get the Stainless steel paleta molds? I don't want to use plastic! Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Gratefully,
Bárbara